Ask five companies for a fence estimate and you will get five different numbers. Here is the checklist that tells you which ones to trust — the same list we hand neighbors who ask.
1. Confirm the license and insurance first
Virginia requires a contractor license for fence work; Class A is the top tier. Ask for the license class and a certificate of insurance naming their carrier. "Licensed, bonded, and insured" should be verifiable, not just a slogan on a truck.
2. Demand the estimate in writing — with the details
A real estimate states footage, material and style, post spacing, gate count and hardware, permit handling, and removal. Vague bids hide the corners they will cut. Compare line by line, not bottom line.
3. Ask who pulls the permit — and who calls 811
Permits (where required) and the 811 utility locate are the customer's risk if nobody owns them. Good companies own both, in writing.
4. Ask about post depth and concrete — the parts you never see
Our region's frost line and clay soil punish shallow posts. Ask how deep posts go and whether they are set on concrete footings. The answer separates fences that stand for decades from fences that lean in year three.
5. Read reviews for the pattern, not the stars
Five stars are common. The pattern to look for: names (who came to the estimate?), communication (did they answer?), and what happened after a problem. Reviews that say "they came back and fixed it" are worth more than a dozen flawless ones.
6. Beware the lowest bid — and the fastest promise
Cheap bids save on posts, concrete, and hardware. Guaranteed-instant-start promises ignore permits and weather. A company that schedules honestly and explains the timeline beats one that promises the moon on the phone.
7. Ask who actually does the work
Employees or subcontractors? The same crew from estimate to finish, or whoever shows up? Consistency is quality control.
8. Walk the finished line before you pay the balance
The walkthrough is where alignment, gates, and cleanup get judged. Companies confident in their work invite it. That is the last step in our process on every job — and the reason reviews mention it.
Five red flags when comparing fence bids
1. No written scope — a one-line price with no footage, material spec, or gate list. 2. Pressure to skip the permit ("nobody checks"). 3. A deposit that covers suspiciously more than materials. 4. No proof of insurance offered before you ask twice. 5. An estimate that never mentions post depth or concrete — the two things that decide whether your fence is standing in year ten.
Seven questions to ask before you sign
- Who pulls the permit, and who calls 811?
- How deep do the posts go, and on what footing?
- Is the crew that measures the fence the crew that builds it?
- What is the warranty on labor, in writing?
- What happens if you hit rock or unmarked utilities mid-dig?
- Can I see the material spec sheet for my fence?
- When is the final payment due — before or after the walkthrough?
The checklist, condensed
- License class verified, certificate of insurance in hand
- Written estimate: footage, materials, posts, gates, permits, removal
- Permit and 811 ownership stated
- Post depth and footing spec answered without hedging
- Reviews name people and follow-through
- Crew consistency estimate-to-finish
- Final walkthrough before final payment
Use it on us, too. Request the free estimate and hold our bid against the checklist — it passes.